Maven of the Strings

Chapter Twenty-three

Nicolette POV

That time, uncle left my bestfriend on her room. Knowing what's going on at the sofa. On what argument he had heard before. Then he saw Arkin, seating in front of us.

"What's going on?" The father asked. Looking on Arkin seriously.

"Sir, I'm sorry about what happen to your daughter." Arkin's apologizing. I'm still angry with him. Then uncle look sad on what's happen tonight.

My best friend mother said to me, "Go to your best friend's room and comfort her. Tell that Arkin was here."

"Okay Auntie." I reply calmly. I give a wrathful looks on Arkin before I leave.

Then I stand. Walk to my best friend's room as what her mom told. When I was at the door to open it,

"Hello." I calmly said after I go back on her room. Putting my rage outside. She's facing the wall and she was cover with thick Hello Kitty blanket.

"Best, come on. Don't be suffer about many things. It's okay." I told her but she wasn't answer although she's not sleeping. "The doctor do their best for you. And we also do our best for you."

I sat on a mini monoblock chair.

At that time, she heard what's going on at the sofa. She learned too that Arkin was there that's why she start sobbing.

Then she faced on me. She was crying asking me,

"Nicole," She said, "Am I still beautiful?"

Then I feel sad and my tears drop, I remove my eyeglass and wiped it faster so she didn't see. I can't restrain the feelings.

"Of course! You're so beautiful. Beautiful of all my friends." Answer with motivation even all goes in the darkness. And I saw the scars on her skins. Those white and soft skins in her old days. Her face nearly been damaged. I fight my feelings to be courageous. I don't show pity because she'll be weaken if I make pity to her. But I can't. My tear start to drop.

Then she sat on the bed. "Hey . . ." She said calmly while wiping her tears. "Come and sit beside me." Then I sat on bed, beside her.

Her voice start to a little bit change. I heard on this that she starts her suffer and that makes my grief.

"I will told you a short story." She said. We heard too what's the conversation outside but not too loud, and seems to be ignored.

"Go I will listen." Smiling answer to her. Ready for any story she been tell.

Then she start telling story what happen around on her Christmas night.

"You know Nicolette, I had many adventures with him. You know the person I'd tell. They perform at a disco bar. We ate at McDonald's. We go on places that even those name are very hard to say. We drive the car with open windows. And she bring me happiness when she conduct a mini-concert on a Grand Square where the crowd is watching us."

I interrogatively answer, "Really? How?"

"He convinced some of those people playing some instrument there to sing with me. It makes me surprised. And we sing my favorite song."

"Fight Song!" We both said at the same time.

"Jinx!" And we laugh. But in her laugh, it sounds sufferings.

Then after that happy conversation she have told, she hold my hand, begun her sadness and cry again. Looking at the floor.

"Nicolette . . ."

"Yes?" Worrying answer.

"Do I marry someday?"

And my mind stuck there.

After I heard this. It really breaks my heart. It makes my motivation disappear. I look on the ceiling and hide my wept.

I angry answer while I cry, "Don't ask me those such things!" Then I hug her tightly after removing my eyeglass while saying. "Yes you can. I'm supporting you. I will be here for you, my bestfriend."

She was sobbing to tell, "I really like Arkin. I admit to you. For the first time. In a short period of time. I feel that I travel the entire world because of him. I'm starting to love him."

"But he did you this bad thing. My dear bestfriend, my goodness. Forget about him."

"I'm trying to forget him. He was said that he likes me too. Maybe he only said that because I was beautiful before. Have a good skin, but now . . . look. Nobody want this. I am hoping for precious mem'ries but it all fades!"

"Don't said that. Please. Don't said that. You're still beautiful. I still recognized your beauty!" And we both crying that night. We both cry! Can't resist the sad moment like this.

She continue while releasing each other,

"Even I loved him. I wanted to forget him. I don't want to see him anymore. I wish that he cares about me. But not. I'm just hoping to be liked after this fated condition, but I'm surely not. I accept that our worlds are different!" And she was forced on crying until she start to exhaust.

"Help me, to . . . forget --," And she was faint and I was shocked.

"Auntie! Uncle!" I'm crying send for help.

Then my best friend's parent urgently went to the room while I go outside to stop Arkin in following and entering the room.

"Absurd!" I'm angry crying to tell this to Arkin. He was shocked and worried, "My bestfriend don't want to see you anymore! Get out!"

"Nicolette, please forgive me." He said. Hoping for forgiveness.

"No! Get out or else I will slap you again!" Then the mother said to Arkin,

"Well son, go ahead to your house. We will do anything for our daughter's condition."

Then he left the house sadly and bothered.

"Auntie," I call her while I cry. "Why you keep good communication to Arkin? She did this to my bestfriend."

"Sweetheart," She said. "It's the fate, not his fault." Then she follow her husband to help him. A paradox of the fate and the faults.

I saw the father manage the oxygen equipment for my bestfriend until all is well. All change in one night. All was changed.